Colombo censures diplomat over Lasantha eulogy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 13:33 GMT]
Government of Sri Lanka censured German Ambassador Jurgen Weerth after the Ambassador spoke at the funeral of slain editor of Sunday Leader, diplomatic sources in Colombo said. "Ambassador Weerth was summoned to the foreign ministry on Tuesday and the Foreign Secretary [Palitha Kohona] expressed Sri Lanka's displeasure and concern over his remarks," an AFT report said quoting a source at the ministry.

"Today is a day when one remains speechless," Weerth said at the funeral Monday. "Maybe we should have spoken before this. Today it is too late.

"Today is a day when humanity has lost a major voice of truth. But he will live in his work," AFP report said quoting the Ambassador.

Sri Lanka's opposition has demanded an international probe into the killing, which drew condemnation from the US, the European Union and many media rights groups, but the government has rejected the call.

Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said Rajapakse's government was directly to blame for the death of the editor as it had "incited hatred against him."

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